Slender-billed Babbler Argya longirostris Scientific name definitions

The rarest and most poorly-known of the Argya babblers inhabiting the Indian subcontinent, Slender-billed Babbler is endemic to the damp Terai-Duar grasslands from Nepal to northeast India (West Bengal, Assam, and Manipur). It occurs in pairs or small groups like other members of the genus, but is difficult to observe in dense grassland habitats and its biology is barely known. Formerly described as common to "excessively abundant" in preferred habitat, Slender-billed Babbler has undergone a considerable decline in population corresponding with destruction of grassland habitats and is now classified as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN. Recent records come from only five protected areas where it ranges from rare to locally common: one in Nepal and four in India (three in Assam and one in Manipur). Historical records from Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar are unverified or erroneous. Because this species is poorly studied may be overlooked across its range, surveys and scientific studies are badly needed to better understand its status and conservation requirements. This article reviews our current knowledge about Slender-billed Babbler, as well as recent records and assessments of its threat status.